Who is Walking on Water?

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here!" Mark 6:48-50

They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here!" John 6:19-20

 

About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!" But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!" Matthew 14:25-27

 

Meditate on water, walking, wisdom, fear, and courage.

 

Ancient boat in a museum at the Sea of Galilee.
Thought to be from the time of Jesus.
Found in 1986 in Israel.

It is pretty dark still at three o’clock in the morning. It’s no wonder that the disciples were terrified. They thought that Jesus was a ghost! Jesus is the light of the world—did it seem like He was glowing? Fear! Plain old fear! That is what they felt…and they had nowhere to escape. They were in a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. It is about eight miles wide. It was dark, but here came this figure on top of the water—walking towards them. Not sinking. I’d be afraid, too. How about you? What was the intent of this image?

Then Jesus spoke. "Don't be afraid." "Take courage! I am here!" Courage. Ahhh. They could breathe a sigh of relief. No ghost. They recognized that voice. It was their Teacher, their Rabbi, their friend. Jesus. No fear. Peace and calm. Is that what you would feel if Jesus suddenly appeared out of nowhere to you? Peace. No fear. I think that His commanding voice, peaceful and reassuring, gave them just that…peace. I would trust Jesus at His word. Don’t be afraid. Take courage.

What do we learn about the character of Jesus in this passage?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for Your reassuring words to not be afraid. I recognize that You are the Son of God…You are God. As written in First John, “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”1 John 4:15-18. I trust You—and in that I will take courage…and not be afraid.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8

 

Share your thoughts about fear, courage, and trust in the comments below.

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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